Mel Rooy/AP Photo

Oral Roberts guard Rachel Watman keeps a tights guard on IUPUI guard Brykeesha Tate during second half action of the Summit League championship Tuesday afternoon March 11, 2008 at the Umac arena in Tulsa, Okla.Watman was named MVP of the tourney.

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Oral Roberts' women's basketball coach Jerry Finkbeiner had a pretty good idea that his Golden Eagles wouldn't have a favorable matchup in the NCAA women's basketball tournament before the bracket was announced Monday.

Now, at least, he knows how tough.

Finkbeiner's Summit League champions will face Pat Summitt's defending national champion Lady Vols in the first round Sunday in West Lafayette, Ind.

"The Summit League was projected to be a 15 or 16 seed about two weeks ago," Finkbeiner said. "We had a sense that it could be Tennessee, it could be Connecticut. That's kind of the world that we live in. It's more of an 'OK, that's who we play' kind of thing."

Oral Roberts (19-13), the preseason pick to win the Summit League, earned its second consecutive automatic bid after rolling through its conference tournament last week despite entering as a No. 4seed.

The Golden Eagles lost to Purdue in the first round of last year's NCAA tournament.

Still, Oral Roberts lost just two starters from last year's team, something Finkbeiner likes heading into Sunday's game.

"We're not as starry eyed as we were last year playing against Purdue," said Finkbeiner, whose team is 0-5 all-time in the NCAA tournament. "Even though it's Tennessee, I think our feet are on the ground a little more than they were last year."

Playing against one of the nation's elite programs is still heady territory for Oral Roberts.

The Golden Eagles have never defeated a team ranked higher than 15th nationally, and they haven't beaten a top-25 team since 1986.

"We're coming from two different planets in women's basketball," Finkbeiner said.

Oral Roberts does bring balance.

Four Golden Eagles averaged double figures this season, led by second-team All-Summit League guard Mariana Carmargo's 13.3 points per game.

Jenny Hardin, the preseason conference player of the year, averaged 13 points a game this season despite lingering effects from a broken foot suffered last year.

Overcoming Tennessee forward Candace Parker could prove to be a little tougher.

"There's no way we can match up with a Candace Parker," Finkbeiner said. "Hopefully she's thinking about a paper she has due after spring break. We've got to have some of that help, too.

"It's a matchup nightmare that I don't think you can pad with a gimmick."

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.